My score dropped from a 25 to a 20. I had been preparing for the math section all of June, but I ended up taking steps backwards.
This is what happened during the test. At first I was knocking out some zingers, doing pretty well and only having to skip harder looking questions. But as I went through, I noticed myself having to skip much more ending up with 20 something skipped questions in the end. I even skipped questions I could do. Because I was under so much pressure from the time limit, I just froze with the harder questions and couldn’t make any progress. When I had only 5 minutes to go, I managed to return to only two skipped questions and had to randomly bubble the rest.
Math has been my best subject and section. If I took the other sections, I probably would have scored lower! I’ve always learned at a slower pace I think, so this pace kind of works against me. This makes me feel like such an idiot, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get into college. The ACT date is in September, and that doesn’t give me much time. What should I do?
Try the SAT. Less time pressure.
I believe conventional wisdom says that the SAT gives you more time but asks harder questions; whereas the ACT material is slightly easier, but the time pressure is more intense. I think the ACT time pressure is particularly apparent in the science section, but it is likely true in all other sections as well. That being said, if you had to skip 20 math questions then unfortunately you will to make time to study. Look for a good test prep book and develop a plan. It can be done and the time you spend studying will be well rewarded. Kids forget a lot of math but it will come back to you with review and practice. Good luck!
I looked over my answers today and had time to work out the skipped questions. As it turns out, I knew how to do pretty much all of them. I figured out if I didn’t miss the ones I knew how to do, and answered correctly the skipped questions I knew how to do, I would have made a 29 or 30.
As a homeschooler, I wasn’t completely used to time pressure. For most of high school, I took math at my own pace and did well. What do you recommend I do to get used to the time pressure and not have a meltdown?